JUAN MOREL CAMPOS SECONDARY NEWSLETTER TRIANGLE SHIRTWAIST FIRE are THE TRIANGLE SHIRTWAIST FIRE By Xia ‘The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire is very ig in the history of New York. On March 25, 1911 146 people died as a result of a fire at the shirtwaist factory on Green Street in Manhattan At the time of the fire the only safety measures available for workers were 25 buckets of water, and a fires escape that collapsed when people tried to use it. Most of the doors were locked and those that weren't locked only opened inward. The clothing material helped to feed the fire, that started on the eigth floor by a light cigarette. To make the situation worst the ladders that the firemen brought to the scene only reached the sixth floor. When the workers saw thatthe the ladders did not work they jumped out the 9th floor. The owners Max Blank and Isaac Harris Were able to escape the inferno by going up the fire escapes to the roof and across to other buildings. The ages of the girs range from 13 to 23. This tragedy was able to happen because atthe time there were no laws to protect the workers, There were no fire safety laws or labor laws. The Triangle shirtwaist factory fire helped people to see the poor working nditions under which factory workers endured. The support for ions also began to gain momentum. Unions like the International Ladies Garment workers would move to the front gaining support from many other unions. Many changes were made after the fre. Fire safety and building codes were enforced. New York legislature enacted safety laws, and other states quickly followed. Another byproduct of the fire was the support for unions and workers. The Triangle Shirtwaist factory Fire remains one of the most horrid and tragic events that changed labor laws and labor So in commemorating this tragic event, let us remember that because this fire employers in the US now have a clear set of uidelines that they need to follow to ensure their workers safety —— SHIRTWAIST FIRE BY Evia. Do you know about labor unions before the ‘Triangle Shirtwaist Fire? Well labor unions were developed to give workers a vioce in the work place. It set up specific laws to abide by ‘ot face penalties. Some people spoke out about unfaimess,unsafe environments,and benefits like time off and retimment plans During the industrial revolution some bussiness owners were taking advantage of workers with low wages,long hours, and unsafe working conditions. The government believed they ‘could not speak out and wouldn’t make on laws how the workers were to be treated, ‘Working conditions were tow pay.they could not speak out (or fired) unsafe environment, and unsanitary working conditions.Employers could do whatever they wanted because there weren’t any laws to protect it Labor unions were formed to give people or workers a vioce in the work place. It setup specific laws and rules that business owners had to abide by or face penalties. ‘There were several labor strikes. A strike is when people walk off the {job and refuse to work. The triangle Shirtwaist helped the unions make their point because the fire made people see the poor working conditions. ‘This fire was the turing point for alot of Americans. Mate Americans began to support unions. New safety laws. were passed by the [New York legislators . Factories were to put signs on exits. Managers could not not lock exits any more, sprinklers, smoke alarms and and. proper fire escapes were made a law for building, codes.SAFETY VIOLATIONS AT THE TRIANGLE SHIRTWAIST FACTORY BY Neha ‘There are many safety tions in the workplace, For instance, on February 26,2010 at a sweater in Bangladesh, about 21 female garment workers suffocated from smoke inhalation in a fire. The reason this happened is because of safety violations at the work place. During the 1900's safety in the workplace was not a priority. Most factories had heavily sealed windows, locked and obstructed exits, elutter of eloth, messy floor, blocked off windows , antiquated fire escapes and equipment. Early industrial life was full of poor safety standards,Jow wages and, low tolerance for unions. What happened at the ‘Triangle Shirtwaist factory at the end of the work day in 1911 was an avoidable tragedy that haunted the people of New York for many years. ‘Typical of idustrial relations at the time, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory workers were subjected to unfair ‘vages in unsafe conditions, working unbelievably long hours. They had litle time off, and little respeet from their employers. Many of the ‘workers were female immigrants, and considered the very lowest type of worker. Itwas March 28, 1911 and the workday was coming to a close. The factory was located on the corner of Greene and Washington in Downtown New York. There were many safety violations. Piles of fabric, machine oil, blocked exitsack of fire safety practices and over crowded work rooms. This meant the second the fire broke out, so did pani. It took a disaster for many people to wake up and see the terrible conditions in sweatshops. Some safety changes were made. The ouilding that once housed the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory still stands in Greenwhich Village today. The 146 women who lost their lives did not die nn vain. Because of the tragedy, safety standards improved, real wages went up, hours went down and union activity increased. Survivors of the ead workers sued the company. In closing sweatshops remain with us in modern times, even in fair New York C But things have come a long way since the tragic day 1 1911 when young womwn, new comers to the country jumped from a burning building to escape un avoidable flames. Out of tradegy comes rogress and out of progress comes a glimpse of the future. CHALKING Each year on the March 25 anniversary of the infamous Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, volunteers ‘an out across the city to inscribe im chalk the names and ages of the victims in front of their former homes.BURNING ALIVE |] Daetg Sereams of death in the air, {gp red to orange as I stand in ‘Machines burning here and there People dying everywhere And the elevator is over there ‘Windows locked doors are sealed ‘The fire is all I feel ‘The building now up in ashes Flash backs in my mind MY LAST GOODBYE. fi BY Pege Iwas only 14 years old When I saw my loved one go Tewas a sunny day Yet they fell ike snow AS pguple watehedbut nothing they ‘The day Isaw her for the last time Before they could take her | closed her eyes, and sang her her favorite lullaby | will never forget when I finally said good night And now I start to cry March 25, 1911 ‘The day I die IMMIGRATION IN THE EARLY 1900'S BY Venue Immigration during the 1900°s was a a dream for many people coming to America. ‘America was seen as a land of opportunity because of the Industrial Revolution. During that time factories were employing many immigrant workers. Factories such as the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory employed many immigrants. These immigrants came from Italy,Russia, Ukrain, Germany and Poland. Immigrantts were usually pai two dollars for a fouteen hour workday. They would however take home less than two dollars becuases the boss would substract money for the thread, needle and electricity from their pay. To make things worse, if the worker made a mistake that money would be taken from their pay. This means that some weeks a ‘worker would go home without pay Just like today, immigrants in the 1900°s had to earn money for their family. Also just like in the 1900s immigrants today usually occupy the lowest paying jobs. Immigrants in the 1900's lived in what is called a tenement. A tenement is a small crowded apartment, that usually has 6-8 people living there. The sanitary conditions were horrible and caused the spread of diseases. Between 1890 and 1919 the growth in industries attracted many newcomers, because of job opportunities. In closing immigrants were usually paid the lowest wages and made to do the most resented jobs, whch were usualy risky. FIRE SAFETY: WITH FIRE FIGHTER TOM = ea Fire Fighter Tom . eee | to alk about fire safety in the home. This eame about as students investigated the details of the ‘Triangle shinwaist Fire that happened in "New York on March 25, 1911. Here Fire Fighter Tors Explained the importance of safety when in the kitchen. He also explained the most common mistakes people make and how to prevent kitchen fires Fire fighter Tom also talked about having a fire alarm and smoke detectors in the home. He also told students that the best place to put a smoke detector was in the bedroom Fire Figher Tom told students that each family should have a plan justin case a fire happens. He gave out pamphlets so that student could take them home and make a plan with their parents Horavts sui gions llail se 1, Docemy fil br a eye pli se 9 fm 2, Dees nyons in the fenil kawes hare o me Doce my fen kare Mil se we reaper.RECREATION OF THE TRIANGLE SHIRTWAIST FACTORY By Mu Jacksons Norma Tocebge eV Chrblper ‘“ » Ms Checkley: Clas 209 the tngic dag Take a peek at the 100th Anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire disaster. Building codes have changed, along with safety for workers. In the past factory workers worked in very unsafe buildings. Fire escapes were not properly maintained. Factory workers were not drilled as to a route of escape during a fire. ‘Working for such little wages, the workers were exploited on a daily basis. The owners were getting their pockets lined with profits. The workers were paying for the materials, threads, electricity and their take home pay was very little. If in the process of making the clothing there were mistakes the workers lost even more because they were penalized for their mistakes. The factory floors were littered with pieces that ingnited very quickly. Several lives were lost. In today’s factory the workers have better working conditions. Fire extinguishers are on every floor, and the response time to a fire is shorter for the fire department. SURVIVOR :Rose Freedman ‘The final survivor of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire Perhaps the most famous industrial fire in American history, which led to demands for labor reform and regulations, began in a shirt factory in New York’s Greenwich Village in 1911. The fire quickly spread. The factory’s executives were in the habit of locking the doors to ensure workers wouldn’t be late and didn’t leave early The workers were forced to jump to their deaths from high floors. But Rose Freedman, then 17, had a and running toward the fire escape. still in shock." different idea. She recalled: "Everyone started screaming I wasn't near the windows. I was further back and stood Then she asked herself, "What are the executives on the 10th floor doing?" Everyone else made the seemingly logical choice of ~~ going down to escape. But Freedman said she "pulled my skirt over my head and dashed up the interior stairs to the 10th floor:"'A police officer on the roof next door hoisted her over, and she walked downstairs to safety. That day, the fire claimed 146 other workers. Freedman died in 2001 at age 107, a month before the 90th anniversary of the fire.